Turning Discovery Into Health

Stem Cells

Stem cell cultures in a laboratory can be
converted into specific types of cells and tissues.

Stem cell research holds great promise for biomedical science—from
helping us better understand how diseases develop and spread, to
serving as accurate screens for new drugs, to developing cell-based
therapies for diabetes, heart failure, Parkinson’s disease,
and many other conditions that affect millions of Americans. There
are 2 basic types of human stem cells: embryonic stem (ES) cells
and non-embryonic, or “adult” stem cells. Just a few
years ago, scientists discovered how to make a third type, by reprogramming
ordinary skin cells that have already “grown up” into
those that look and act like cells from an embryo. These cells
have been named induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells.

Scientists discovered how to transform skin
cells into a pluripotent state, giving them the versality of
embryonic stem cells. Image by Junying Yu, University
of Wisconsin-Madison

NIH research is progressing on multiple fronts to learn more about
the differences between the 3 stem cell types and to create patient-specific
cells for in-depth study of many diseases. The ability to create
iPS cells is a significant breakthrough, since the reprogramming
technique is relatively simple to perform with standard laboratory
methods, and because skin cells are easy to gather and grow. The
most exciting aspect of this research is its potential to speed
progress toward achieving personalized therapies. With refinements,
this method could yield an unlimited supply of customized cells.

Regenerative medicine is moving toward a day when we can repair
and replace damaged tissues. In time, we will be able to make insulin-secreting
pancreatic cells, bone cells to heal breaks and defects, and eye
and ear cells to restore vision and hearing. NIH researchers are
hard at work using stem cells as a powerful tool to study neurological
disorders like Parkinson’s, Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS), and spinal cord injury, to name a few.

Imagine the Future…

Stem cells restore motor function in spinal cord injury.

Screening new drugs is quick and much less costly due to rapid
and accurate early testing for specific disease applications.

Bioengineered bones and cartilage ease joint disorders, improving
the quality of life for millions.